The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A FAMILY vacation to Haiti ended in tragedy Monday when a 39-year-old Eleuthera father of three died in a boating accident just four days into the trip, leaving relatives awaiting answers from Haitian authorities while pushing back against online claims that his death was linked to drugs or violence.

Andre Dean, of The Bluff, Eleuthera, was found floating in waters off Port-de-Paix in northwestern Haiti on Monday evening along with several others, according to his family.

He had left by boat on Sunday evening. The circumstances surrounding the accident remained unclear yesterday.

His sister, Kenva Neely, speaking to The Tribune from Haiti, said the family was still waiting for authorities to explain what happened.

Dean had travelled to Haiti last week with his sister and mother for a one-week vacation to spend time with his stepfather’s family. It was his second visit to the country.

The family was only four days into the trip when he died.

Ms Neely said her brother had been excited to return after falling in love with Haiti during an earlier visit. She said the trip had also made him reflect on the life his three children had in The Bahamas.

She said: "He was like 'I'm so happy to be here' and then he started to say, 'Boy, my children, I tell my children from the first time they have to appreciate life'. He say they have riches because he see the state of the children here and how they live and stuff like that."

Dean’s wife and their children, aged two, ten and 16, remained in The Bahamas.

Ms Neely said the suddenness of her brother’s death had left the family struggling to process what happened.

"To be honest, it's like no words because it happened so quick. Like all of us come on vacation, and it happened so quick," she said.

Ms Neely was not present when her brother told relatives he planned to go boating with friends on Sunday, but said she later learnt of the conversation.

She said the weather was bad that day, although she believed her brother thought it was safe to make the trip.

The family became alarmed after Dean failed to return by Monday morning.

Ms Neely said their stepfather and other relatives began searching for the boat and the people believed to have been aboard.

Their fears were confirmed later that evening when Dean’s body was found.

Ms Neely said the family does not suspect foul play and rejected social media reports suggesting he had been shot or killed.

"He had no cuts on him. He had no wounds. I see somebody put up on Facebook that he get shoot up or he get kill. None of that. I saw it for myself and none of that," she said.

Ms Neely said the family believes he drowned.

"The only thing he had is a little small bruise on his head,” she said. “It's like you know when you hit when you hit the rock or reef or something."

She also rejected social media speculation that the incident was connected to drugs, saying the claims had reduced her mother to tears.

"The nasty things people saying on Facebook is very ridiculous," she said. "My brother didn't come down here to do no drug activities, none of that. He came here because he said he falls in love with the place, and he wanted to come back with his family on vacation."

Dean was a self-employed construction worker whom his sister described as joyful, ambitious and devoted to his family.

Before travelling to Haiti, he had taken his children to the beach, where they built sandcastles and spent time together.

Ms Neely said her brother loved and encouraged his children and had recently built a home with his wife, who is from Abaco.

"He always said he wanted to make sure work and have enough money to make sure that his family would never need for anything," she said.

The family was yesterday trying to return to The Bahamas, but Ms Neely said flights were full.

She said relatives would remain in contact with Haitian authorities as they work to have Dean’s body returned home.

His death prompted an outpouring of condolences on social media, including from North Eleuthera MP Sylvanus Petty.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said embassy officials would remain in contact with Dean’s family and Haitian law enforcement as they seek more information about the circumstances surrounding his death.